Compounding pharmacies

Last spring we reported on a serious problem in hospitals – shortages of critical drugs, including chemotherapy treatments, anesthetics and even basic vitamins. This week Congress passed a bill that could make it easier for hospitals to get drugs they can't find anywhere else. But there are also risks that come with this particular solution.

Now, a follow-up on a series we aired earlier this year on drug shortages in hospitals. We called it Critical Supply, and we found that compounding pharmacies help hospitals fill the gap with some chemotherapy treatments, emergency crash-cart injections and even basic vitamins that go in IV fluids.

This week we're reporting on a serious problem in health care. Hospitals are almost running out of a wide variety of critical drugs, including chemotherapy treatments, anesthetics, and even basic vitamins. There are hundreds of shortages, and hospital pharmacists and doctors say that's making it more difficult to care for patients.